Tuesday, March 13, 2012 Did you know that 97% of U.S. papers have a paid circulation of less than 50,000? Their combined circulations, though, exceed 109 million - more than 3 times the aggregate total of the big daily newspapers. These are the community newspapers.
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Putnam County New book tells the history of Putnam County through Pictures Grand Jury By Jack Bailey hands down Indictments SCOTT DEPOT – The Upper jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com
Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney, Mark A. Sorsaia, reports that thirty-six indictments were returned on March 6th by the March 2012 Term Putnam County Grand Jury alleging forty-four persons committed one hundred forty-five felonies and twentyfour misdemeanors. The following is the date of birth, last known address, and offenses for which they were indicted. Carl E. Baker, 01/24/70, 454 Woods Drive, St. Albans, WV – manufacturing a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance Mary L. Barnette, 01/26/50, 6 Windsong Acres, Winfield, WV – welfare fraud Matthew S. Bowen, 03/22/79, 205 Jamestown Road, Nitro, WV – daytime burglary and grand larceny Jonathan R. Brewer, 07/25/85, Rt 1, Box 1003, Poca, WV – uttering a forged writing (3) Summer L. Burford, 06/20/77, 3245 Winfield Road, #223, Winfield, WV – sexual asSEE INDICTMENTS ON PAGE 5
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Vandalia Historical Society has published a new pictorial history of Putnam County. Called “We Love to Tell the Stories – A Pictorial History of Putnam County” the book came out in late February and has already sold several hundred copies. “We started talking about this over a year ago,” said Cheryl Wintz Withrow, president of the Upper Vandalia Historical Society. “And the more we talked about it we decided, 'We can do this. We have to do this.'” The Upper Vandalia Historical Society was co-founded by Withrow's father, and 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the society. The book began as part of the society's 50th anniversary celebration. In all, the 150 page book features 275 black and white photographs from all around Putnam County. Pamela Pierce-Simms edited the book and performed the leg-
(From left) Pamela Pierce-Simms and Cheryl Wintz Withrow display a copy of the new book “We Love to Tell the Stories – A Pictorial History of Putnam County.” The new book was published by the Upper Vandalia Historical Society and retails for $15. Photo by Jack Bailey work necessary to bring it all together. She said that she started with approximately 1,500 photographs and worked through them all to make sure that a good
cross section of the county and its history were represented. “The book starts at the courthouse, and then goes alphabetically by town through Putnam County,” Pierce-Simms said. “I
started by bringing a scanner to the Society's quarterly meetings and scanning photographs that members brought in.” From there, Pierce-Simms SEE BOOK ON PAGE 3
Hurricane High School teacher says he will fight to keep position By David Payne Sr. davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com
A Hurricane High School teacher in hot water following a heated discussion on homosexuality in the classroom has withdrawn his resignation and says he plans to fight to keep his job. Social studies teacher Christian St. John, who lives in Huntington, said that he was pressured into offering his resignation and has withdrawn it. His resignation was listed on the Putnam County Board of Education's agenda for the March 5 meeting, but the board, acting
on a recommendation from Superintendent Harold “Chuck” Hatfield, removed it during the meeting, which was packed with St. John supporters. Hurricane students presented the board with two petitions containing a combined more than 800 signatures – asking for St. John to be reinstated at Hurricane. St. John contends that he was pressured into filing a resignation to avoid termination. School officials, including Hatfield, said they could make no comment whatsoever on the matter.
In one incident, which occurred in early February, St. John said he was drawn into a heated discussion with a student whom peppered an outburst with gay slurs. The discussion began when the student disapproved of a definition in the civics textbook that defined a family as “adults who care for the physical and emotional needs of children.” St. John claims that on Feb. 23, Hurricane High Assistant Principal Heather Hawes informed him that Hatfield had begun termination proceedings against him and that he could resign to avoid termination, but refused to
tell him why he was being fired. St. John said that he was later offered a chance to resign, effective at the end of the school year, which would have allowed him to keep his retirement, but was not informed of the alleged offenses, but officials said that he by no means was to set foot upon school property. Doing so would mean instant termination, he said. The March 5 meeting was packed with students, former students and parents who attended in support of St. John. Four students and one parent SEE TEACHER ON PAGE 3
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